China is rationing power for professionals in the country's southwest as hot weather tugs on demand as hydroelectric facilities are hit by weak rivers, state media reported. State.
In the province of Sichuan, temperatures regularly exceed 40°C in recent days, which leads to an almost systematic use of air conditioning to cool the approximately 84 million inhabitants.
To produce its electricity, Sichuan depends 80% on hydraulic dams.
But rivers in the area have dried up, according to China's Ministry of Water Resources.
To save electricity, 19 cities in the province have ordered factories and businesses to suspend their activity, according to a notice published on Sunday and relayed by the official media.
Significantly reduced lithium production
In effect until Saturday, the measure does not concern individuals.
However, some companies may operate at limited capacity for special needs.
Sichuan is a key region in China for the manufacture of lithium, a metal present in electric batteries.
A factory operated by the Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn, the main supplier of the American Apple, notably suspended its production.
Read alsoIs China already "the world's leading economy"?
Consequence of the restrictions: the production of lithium should be reduced by at least 1,200 tons, which makes jump the course of lithium carbonate, underlines the analyst Susan Zou, of the specialized firm Rystad Energy.
The coastal provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu and Anhui in eastern China have also imposed electricity rationing for professionals.
China again issued several red alerts on Monday due to scorching temperatures in several regions.
Midsummer heat waves are not unusual in China, especially in the arid west and south.
But they seem to be getting stronger in recent years with climate change, scientists say.